TheraVoca blog

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Why Idaho's Dark Winters Hit Harder

Seasonal affective disorder is real depression that follows the seasons, and research suggests it rises the farther north you live. Here is what SAD actually is, and what helps, from light therapy to CBT.

Article summary

Seasonal affective disorder is real depression that follows the seasons, and research suggests it rises the farther north you live. Here is what SAD actually is, and what helps, from light therapy to CBT.

Article excerpt

Reviewed by TheraVoca's clinical team Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that follows the seasons, usually arriving in late fall and lifting in spring. It is not a separate illness but a "seasonal pattern" of major depression, and research suggests it tends to be more common the farther north you live. That makes it especially worth knowing about in a higher latitude state like Idaho. The good news: it is treatable, with light therapy, CBT, and sometimes medication. Here is what seasonal depression really is and what helps. Know what seasonal depression actually is In the clinical manual used by therapists (the DSM 5 TR), SAD is not its own diagnosis. It is a "with.